Employment

K Saravana Kumar July 13, 2013

Scope Creep And How To Deal With It

Scope creep is something that every freelancer has to deal with at some point of an assignment or assignments. A scope creep is the changes and growth that were not predefined at the start of the project. Not only can a scope creep cost you a lot of money and a lot of time. Many times, it happens that freelancers are not able to do justice to other assignments because of a scope creep.

A scope creep is also known as requirement creep and feature creep. There are a number of ways a scope creep can happen without you knowing about it or even aiding it unconsciously. For example if you are working on a website design and the client asks you to write a short home page intro and you do it thinking that it is a simple thing, then he asks you to fill in the contact details too and before you know it you are spending time gathering data then designing. This is called scope creep.

Scope creep is not very difficult to deal with; you just have to know when to draw a line between a little something and a lot of extra work. There are a number of ways to deal with scope creep. In this post, we will take a look at some of the ways:

Talk sooner than later

Most freelancers fall a victim of scope creep because they do not talk soon enough. When you let the scope of the project creep up to unmanageable proportions, only you are to be blamed for it. Talk to the client a soon as you feel that you are being asked to do more than that was discussed. Bailing out at a later stage will not get you a happy client.

Know beforehand how much time you are going to spend on the project

When you get a job, especially a fixed price job spend some time with the client tell him/her about how you plan to proceed with the job. Chart down how you are going to progress with the job and how much time you are going to spend on the job. This will give you a definite time frame of the job and you can leave a little time over I case of emergencies. This way you will know if you should start billing extra for any of the changes in the work.

Sometimes scope creep is good if you get to increase your experience base.

Do not be afraid to say no or present a new estimate

There is nothing wrong in saying no to the client if you have completed the job successfully and do not want to take on more of the same work. Be polite and firm and explain it to them. However if you have to do the additional work then do not be afraid to provide the client a new estimate. The client should know that increase work would add to the bottom line. There is nothing wrong in that and you must have confidence in your work. Also mentioning a price up front will ensure that there are no misunderstandings later on. The client will be more than happy to pay the price if asked upfront rather than haggling about it later.

One way to deal with scope creeps is to opt for hourly jobs. This way you will be paid for the work that you do and the client will also know exactly how much work you are doing. Payments also become easier to calculate. Scope creep affects every freelancing job and therefore keeping the above tips in mind will help you deal with it better.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar June 27, 2013

Things A Freelancer Should Never Say To A Client

The best part about being a freelancer is that you gain a kind of experience that a regular job. You get to meet a number of people, you get to work on a variety of projects and expand your horizons. However, you also will have to learn how to deal with different kinds of people and learn to adapt yourself to the project demand. Of course, not everything is perfect every time and you will make mistakes sometimes but you can always learn from them.

Here is my list of things, which you should never say to a client:

I will submit the work later: Deadlines are deadlines and a freelancer is always expected to follow them. Even if you want an extended deadline then let the client know about it well in advance. Also instead of using the word ‘later’ give a definite time frame for example will submit by xyz date etc.

Sorry for not replying sooner: When a client hires you for a project he/she expects to be communicated with regularly with the progress of the project. The client is not going to be happy with a freelancer who takes up a project and then vanishes to reappear with completed project within the give deadline. As a freelancer make sure that you reply to client emails/phone calls as soon as possible.

I have given you a discount: When you are starting as a freelancer you might be tempted to give ‘discount’ to clients in order to get work. This is a wrong word to use. When you tell a client that you have given them discounts they immediately think that you overcharged them and now giving the actual price. Do not give ‘discounts’ when not asked for. If the client persists then you can may be negotiate a little.

I know a better way to do this: Nobody and with it I mean not even you as a freelancer would like to be told a better way to do your job and that the other way is better. The same goes for the client. Don’t tell the client a better way to do his job. You can talk about the particular section of project that you are working on but unless asked don’t try to turn into a business advisor.

Thnx, OMG, u, hey, and other text language: Keep things professional at all times. Email should be responded to in the correct manner and with correct spellings. I have had some freelancers working for me who did not even bother to spell my name right or took the liberty to shorten my name. Needless to say I did not work with them again. The way you write your email or letters or take the phone calls says a lot about your professionalism. Avoid the text language and use proper words.

I have made some changes to make it look better: Every client loves an enthusiastic freelancer. But to present the client with a completed work very different from what he/she asked for is a completely different thing. Knowing that the freelancer has changed the final work will not make your client happy. Get a green signal from the client before making any changes. There will some core things in a project that the client will not want to change.

I can do it: I admit I am guilty of using this sentient. I have said to a client that I can do the project even though I had no idea how to go about it. I was able to do the project but it involved a lot of extra work on my part. Don’t say yes to things, which you don’t know about.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar May 1, 2013

Discounts, Deals And Free Samples: To Do Or Not To Do?

When a new product is launched in the market, the marketing company makes a marketing plan for the product. The marketing plan many contain discounts, deals or free samples or all three of them to attract customers and establish a base in the market. Similarly, when you are a freelancer you have to from time to time offer some enticing offers to attract clients. With more than 30% of the world population favoring freelance work over regular jobs the competition is tough out there.

Deals and Discounts are also a way in which you can keep your name in circulation. For example if your name is in circulation with deals or discounts for web designing then a client is most likely to hire you then go in search for freelancers whose names are not in circulation.

For freelancers the question of offering discounts, deals and free samples has often been a topic of debate. For some it is a great way to break into the market especially if they have just started as a freelancer. On the other hand, many believe that lowering your quote can harm their creditability as a freelancer. As a freelancer, it is very difficult to estimate the amount of work involved in a project. You can estimate but can never clearly define the amount of effort and time that will go into it.

So the question arises whether you should be doing it or not. The answer is it will depend on project-to-project basis. However, there are some good and bad points, which you can consider to make your decisions easy:

The Good

If you have very few clients or have just started then offering discounts and deals can bring you an influx of clients.
Free samples of your work will help the client judge your understanding of the project and therefore chances are that you might bag a long-term project.
Limited time discounts or one-time deals can get you some quick cash.
Discounts, deals and free samples are a great way to build a portfolio as a freelancer and gather some testimonials.
They are a great way to get into a tight budget client.

The Bad

It may seem that you are getting desperate for work and therefore offering the discounts.
You might end up attracting clients who want to get a lot of work done by paying meager price, which might not look so good on your portfolio.
When you offer a discount, the client might think that you feel that your rates are not justifiable. This might come across as a wrong impression.
Of course, you have to use your judgment at times to decide the course of events. Consider the following factors
Your current client network
Amount of work that you can take on
Is it going to put you in loss?
Will it benefit you in other ways except monetary

I once had a client interview me for a writing job who wanted five free article samples before hiring me and the job was of a total of 10 articles! Needless to say, I had to decline the offer, as it was clearly a sham to get some free work done. In addition, you have to be careful of clients who do not release your payment until you do some extra work.

When you are offering any kind of deal or discount then make sure that you make all the terms and conditions clear to the client before starting. Remember the idea is to get them to offer you more work and not to think that you are willing to work for less.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar April 30, 2013

Budgeting: Why Is It Important For A Freelancer?

Being a freelancer means that you are your own boss. This also means that you are responsible for the success or failure of your jobs. A freelancer does not have a steady income at all time. The income will vary depending on the nature of the job, number of clients etc. Freelancing also does not cater for any employee benefits. Therefore as a freelancer, it is important that you learn the art of budgeting down to the pat.

We hear a lot of reasons for why freelancers tend to ignore budgeting including ‘I am trying to build up a business first’ or ‘I never had a problem till now’ or the classic ‘Never had the time’. But if you ask them, most freelancers will agree that maintaining a budget is very important for any freelancer. In this post, we will take a look at some of the reasons for why budgeting is import for a freelancer.

It helps you cater for lean times

As I said before that, a freelancer can never be sure of a steady income. You might earn more from a job or sometimes you might not have a job. Therefore, the money that you earn from the high paying job will come in handy when you don’t have a job provided you have made a budget for yourself and followed it through. Because even when you don’t have a job you will have to pay for expenses like bills, electricity, internet, phone and food.

It helps you dream big

When I started out as a freelance writer I was barely able to work 2-3 hours a day because things like housework, electricity cuts etc. would eat into my time. I started operating on a budget where my first aim was to save up enough to buy a generator to not to let electricity cuts interfere with my work. I saved up enough to buy one in 3 months by sticking to the budget. I now have an answering machine to take care of all the unwanted calls and a much faster laptop and table to help me work faster. This all has been possible because I made a budget and stuck to it.
Having a budget to tidy you over during your lean times will help you dream big. With your budget in your hands, you will be able to plan for better things and even present a more professional front to the potential clients. Your dreams are not limited to the professional front only; they can be personal also like taking for favorite art class or going on your dream holiday.

It helps you sail through life’s surprises

Life can never be very unpredictable. You never know one moment from another about what is going to happen. If you are not prepared for the surprises that life will throw at you then it will catch you on the wrong foot. Therefore, it is always important to prepare for such unforeseen events. The best way to do that is to have a budget set which will cater for any emergencies.

When you are working as a freelancer, you don’t have the standard insurance covers that are provided by the companies therefore you have to think about it yourself. If you have a budget on hand then you will be able to set a sum aside for emergency funds, which can be tapped easily without you having to worry about money to pay bills the next month.

Budgeting gives you a kind of security for you and your family. Being secure with a budget also means that your mind will be free of worries, which in turn means that you can work better. So you see it is a Win –Win situation!

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar April 8, 2013

Why Freelancing Is The Right Choice For You?

Taking a plunge into freelancing is very much like deciding which career option to choose when you are in college. You have to weigh the pros and cons of each option you have before you select one. A common question that we hear at interviews is ‘What makes you think you are right for the job?’ To answer the question you must know what the job entails and how does it match to your skills and requirements. The same is true for freelancing, before you decide to take it up you must know whether it is the right choice for you or not. In this post, I have listed some points that will help you figure out the answer for the same.

Full time or part time

There are two types of freelancing work that you can undertake full time or part time. Full time freelancing means that you don’t take up a regular job and fully concentrate on freelancing. Part time freelancing is when you keep your regular job but also do some freelancing work as a source of extra income. You need to think carefully about which option you choose from. Keep in mind that no employer will like it if you do your freelancing jobs in regular working hours. Can you give enough time for both jobs is the prime question you need to answer when think about taking up part time freelancing.

Can you stay alone and work

Freelancing means that you have to work alone for 99% of the time. All the brainstorming that you need will have to be done by you. You will not have anybody ‘assisting’ or ‘helping ‘you in completing the work, or doing the marketing or gather data and equipment. Most of the time freelancers don’t even have a regular office space. Therefore, think if you are up to doing all the work yourself.

You are OK with irregular income

Freelancing does not guarantee you regular income at any times. Income will depend on the assignment that you are working on currently. There might even be a gap between the assignments during which you will not have any income. So you will have to learn to save judiciously for a rainy day and also plan your expenditures.

You want to try new things and learn new skills

If you want to try out new things and learn new skills, then freelancing is the right job for you. Each job will get you a different and unique kind of experience, which will broaden your horizons. You will get a chance to learn new skills of your interest at your own time.

You stay at a remote location

Freelancing is a perfect career option for those who live in remote locations or have not been to find the correct job matching their skills in the area, which they live in. Sometimes commuting to the workplace might be a problem and in such cases, freelancing is a perfect choice.
Because even from a remote location you can easily have a global, reach when freelancing. You will get to choose your own assignments and make your own schedule, which is perfect for working from home.

You want more ‘me’ and family time

For whatever reasons if you feel that you need to give more family time or me time then freelancing might be just the option that you need. Since you will be working at your own pace with no unnecessary stress or pressure, you can give as much time as you want to your near and dear ones.

You love challenges

If you love new challenges then freelancing the way to go! Each job that you take will bring you new challenges that will make you want to learn more and be the best of the best. These challenges can be in terms of time, research or output etc. and you will take pride in completing each one of them.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar April 6, 2013

What You Need To Know Before Freelancing?

Freelancing is a very good option for those who want to strike out on their own. There can be many reasons behind you choosing freelancing as a career option for yourself. Some do it for some extra money along with their regular jobs, some do it because they need to pay bills or college tuition fees and some do it because they cannot or do not want to bound by regular office hours.

For me I took up freelancing because my family moves around a lot and it was not possible to join any office for a long term. Since I took up freelancing I have been able to make my own schedules, enjoy lot of family time and still earn some decent money. However like all journeys we taken on unknown path the journey to my being a successful freelancer has not been easy. In this post I would like to share my experience on things what you need to know before freelancing.

It is never going to be easy: Freelancing is not an easy job by any means. There is a lot of competition out there. When you take a plunge in freelancing you are going to be competing against people from all corners of the world and not just from a small set of works. Also a lot of hard work will go into organizing, bidding for projects, meeting deadlines etc. Client are going to come running to you at the start, you will have to attract them towards you.

No freelancer gets rich right away: Before you start freelancing make sure that you are not swayed by the advertisements like ‘earn 10000 rupees in a day’ or ‘I got rich working just 2 hours a day’ etc. they are frauds. There is no freelancing job that will make you rich in a day; in fact most freelancers cannot even make a decent earning in the beginning. It is more of a case of slow and steady. When I started working I used to apply for 30 jobs and get one or two.

People are not very receptive towards freelancing jobs: I have been working as a freelancer for 3 years now and when I tell people what I do, they still look at me with doubt in their eyes and ask ‘does it work’. They have a hard time accepting that you have to follow a schedule when you are just ‘sitting at home’. It will be your job to let these things not affect you and be firm in maintaining your schedule and deadlines.

You will be responsible for any glitches: These glitches can include many things like illness, broken equipment, no internet connection, emergency leave etc. You will have to work hard alone to get over these problem because with every client the deadline as to be made.

There are no extra perks or bonuses: When you are working on your own or freelancing there will be no perks or bonuses for you. Perks like insurance, paid leave, sick leave, and some kind of TA/DA are not applicable to freelancers even when they are working the same amount as the regular employee in a company. Same goes for bonuses, there are no regular bonuses in freelancing. There are some clients who might give you a bonus for a job well done or for completion in time but that is entirely the client’s prerogative and you cannot ask for it.

You cannot ignore even a single client: Every single client can make a difference of success and failure for you. You cannot ignore any client no matter how small is the project that you have undertaken. Therefore you will have to learn how to strike a balance and keep clients happy at all times.

You will have to learn to say no: You will have to learn to say no to both personal functions and commitments and to some of your clients. The hard reality of being a freelancer is that sometimes you will have to say no to some big projects because you are finishing up the other smaller ones. You need to keep some time aside for last minute changes or some extra work.

I hope the above points will help you better prepare for the challenges a freelancer has to face. It will help you avoid a lot of tension and disappointments and you will be able to enjoy the sweet victories (both big and small) of being your own boss.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar April 5, 2013

Do You Have It In You To Make It As A Freelancer?

To be our own bosses is a dream come true job everybody in the world. Most people see freelancing as a chance of working on their own time, enjoying breaks when they want, billing hours from café while sipping a cup of fresh coffee and working, taking projects which they want, skipping a day without having to apply for leave or taking permissions. But are these perks enough for you to leave your regular job and take up freelancing jobs?

The answer is a straightforward ‘no’. On the surface you might see a freelancer as a master of his/her will but in reality before giving up your full time job or choosing between freelancing and full time job you need to know think carefully about whether you have the qualities and skills needed to make it as a freelancer. There are some things which you will need to give up and some things which need to adapt to succeed as a freelancer. In this post, we will take a look at some of the things, which will help you decide whether you are up to it, or not?

Can you survive with variable income?

A freelancer’s income depends on the type of project he or she has in hand. Some months you will have many projects in hand and earn more than your average but in some months you might not have so many projects in hand and the income might not be so much. Also you will not be paid when you are on vacation or have to leave a project in midway. Therefore, think whether you can manage your finances even in slump. Also when you are just starting your jobs you might not be paid as much as you want, therefore can you manage in the starting days?

Can you work alone?

As a freelancer you will have to work alone a lot. There will be no time for office gossips or taking help from your friends. Most of the times you will be sitting alone on the desk of your home or rented office space and working. Therefore it will be entirely up to you to make your workplace as conductive as work at you can.

Can you push yourself out of bed?

Most of the newbie freelancers fail because of they cannot push themselves to get out of bed because they have nowhere to go. Think about it hard whether you can pull yourself out of the bed and fix a working time for yourself when you have nowhere to go.

Can you take criticism and failure?

As a freelancer you will not get every job that you will apply for. Also sometimes it might also happen that the client will reject your work or criticize it rather harshly. You will have to take the flak alone and might have to meet very tight deadlines. Therefore ask yourself how well you can handle criticism and failure. You can take the help of your family and friends and they will be truly able to help you figure out your this nature.

Can you deal with difficult clients?

Each freelance project that you will be getting will have a different requirement and every client needs to be handled differently. Do you have any experience in handing difficult clients and do you have the ability to self-market yourself to even the pickiest of clients? These are the two questions, which you need to ask yourself before starting out as a freelancer. Remember everything including marketing, gathering the required equipment, doing research and delivering the project to the client will have to be handled by you and you alone.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar April 2, 2013

Freelancers Search engine – BETA Launch

We are exited to announce that Upfreelance.com is launching in beta mode today. Using our freelancers search engine you can find the talents quickly and engage them for your freelance projects. You can search with keyword or narrow down to the talents you need by browsing skills or country wise deep down directory search.

Currently we are launching with limited profiles index from limited freelancing sites. We will expand our freelancers search index with more profiles in coming days. Please go through our new service and share your feedback in comments section.

Current features

You can search with keyword
Find Country wide freelancers
Find freelancers skills wise
Signup with your linked-in id
Add freelancers to your favorites
Visit their profiles and hire them
much more

We would love to hear your feedback on freelance directory. Please leave a comment below.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar March 20, 2013

Things A Freelancer Should Never Do

Striking out on your own or freelancing, as it called is never easy. You will have to answer a lot of question from your peers, you will have to work double hard to make a name for yourself. When you are trying to do something different there will always be people who will try to pull you down. But you should always keep in mind that it is only a small step that paves the road to success.

Today’s communication savvy world holds a vast number of freelancing jobs like software designing, writing, programing, web designing, data entry, interior designing, dress designing, research etc. Every job has different requirements, which will vary depending on the client needs, but there are a few rules, which apply everywhere. In this post, we will discuss about some things that a freelancer should never do:

Don’t procrastinate: This is the golden rule, which a freelancer should always remember. The more you drag your feet in submitting your assignments the more you lose the clients faith. Similarly, when you are in a process of discussing or giving an interview then make sure that you are quick in precise and correct response.

Don’t deviate from client instructions: This is one mistake that most freelancers make (although not consciously) is that they deviate from client instruction in order to make the project ‘better’. If you have any ideas, which will make the project better or will give better value to client then discuss with the client first and incorporate any changes if and only if the client agrees to it. Remember nobody likes surprises, which they did not ask for.

Don’t use ‘wrong’ language: When you are freelancing, the client will watch your every move because he/she has put their faith in you especially since you are not on their payroll. Therefore, you need to watch what you are saying at all the times. Don’t be too over familiar even when you have been working for the client for a long-long time. Always use the correct salutations, correct write up even when you are in chat. Don’t use icons, or acronyms or SMS language with words like thanx, BRB, ttyl etc.

Don’t change your fees: This is another one big mistake, which a freelancer should never ever make if he or she wants to really succeed in making a career out of freelancing. If you increase your fees in between the project or change the payment terms then the client is not going to be happy with you ever. Some freelancers start haggling for more payment once the job is near completion or they come to know that client is now dependent on the project or requires it urgently. This is an unethical practice. This rule also includes not over charging the client.

Don’t take a job because money is good: A good freelancer knows what his/her skills are and knows what kind of jobs he or she can do. Imagine taking a software-designing job when you have a writing background just because the money is good. If you don’t have the necessary skills then how will you deliver a good product? Your reputation is more important than money in freelancing jobs.

Don’t compromise on your rates: If you are bidding for a job and see that, others have bid lower for the job then don’t compromise on your rates. If you know that, you can do a very good job then bid accordingly and in your bid write to the client about why you will be suitable for the job. Try to bid for the amount that will justify your skills and expertise.

K Saravana Kumar

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K Saravana Kumar March 13, 2013

Get Freelancing Jobs Using Your Social Connections

Love it or hate it social connections are a key to success to every business. By social connections, we mean both physical and online social connections. Online social connections are popularly known as social media connections.

Even the person that you befriend on the train ride becomes the part of your social connection. Social connections are a part of your everyday life. As an established or starting freelancer, you can easily utilize you social connections to get great jobs. In this article, we will take a brief look at the type of people you should connect with how you can use those connections for your benefit.

Family: Your family can help you further a career by putting in a good word about your freelancing career. It is always a good idea to keep your family in loop with your freelancing work. They will be able to give you their honest and true opinion.

Friends: The kind of support and recommendation that your friend can provide you is something, which you will not get anywhere. Friends of your friends are more likely to trust you if they know that you have a common connection.

Current and former co-workers: Your co-workers already know your work and therefore they can give you a good recommendation based on their experience. Many of them may move to a position where they might require your freelancing skills. Networking with current freelancer gives you a platform to share your doubts and feelings with people who are or have been in the same situation. You can discuss projects with your co-workers and even join forces for new projects.

Clients: If your current and former clients are happy with your work they will always consider you for the new jobs you have. My last two freelancing jobs were originally intended to be two months projects but the client extended the projects for one year because my work was good. Keeping in social touch with your former and current clients will help you make a solid base for future projects.

Teachers and Professors: Open your old class yearbook and get in touch with your schoolteachers and college professors. It will be interesting to learn what they have been up to. Most of them might have some kind of freelancing jobs that might suit you.

Local Businesses: Every local business is always looking for ways to increase their business and your freelancing skills can be of their help. But you have to go to them and interact on various social levels to get them to send some business your way. You can also learn a lot from them in way how they run their business.

Prospective clients: You cannot sit hand on hand waiting for jobs to come to you. You might know the prospective clients today but in the future you can develop long term connects with them. It is always a good idea to initiate a conversation either physically or through social media. You can strike up conversations by commenting on their posts, blogs etc. and following them on twitter.

The more you network, the more are the chances of you being able to make your presence known. You must make a dedicated effort to join forums that appeal to your interest. Make it known that you are interested in taking new jobs. Don’t be afraid to let your skills be known to the world. People tend to hire those freelancers you have confidence in their work and skills.

However, there are some points, which you must keep in mind when interacting over social media. Be careful about how much information you are giving out. Do not be too persistent. Remember you want to make your presence known but do now want to overwhelm everybody.